Browse Articles

Parity‐Time‐Symmetric Bimorphic Topological Insulators

ABSTRACT We propose and experimentally realize a parity‐time ()‐symmetric bimorphic topological insulator, characterized by the coexistence of first‐ and second‐order topological phases. Our platform utilizes an anomalous Floquet model implemented in a 2D optical waveguide array, where symmetry is maintained via a four‐step driving protocol with spatiotemporally engineered loss. Despite the presence of dissipation, we demonstrate that the symmetry ensures a purely real quasienergy spectrum across the topological regime, effectively stabilizing boundary modes against the dynamical instabilities and mode competition typical of non‐Hermitian systems. Experimentally, we provide unambiguous evidence of this non‐Hermitian bimorphic phase by observing unidirectional, clockwise edge transport in the zero gap and robust corner localization in the gap. Our findings pave the way for further exploration of ‐symmetric and non‐Hermitian topological phases in nonlinear and many‐body regimes and provide novel insights into the realization of topological insulators in open quantum systems.

Metabolic reprogramming in chromophobe renal cell carcinoma: Transcriptomic insights into the transition from indolent to aggressive disease.

530 Background: Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (CHRCC) is an uncommon subtype that is usually indolent but becomes aggressive in later stages. The mechanisms driving this shift are unclear, though mitochondrial and metabolic alterations are implicated. Using TCGA transcriptomic data, the study examined stage-specific changes in oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, and glutamine metabolism genes to identify metabolic pathways associated with tumor progression. Methods: Transcriptomic data for chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (KICH) were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and analyzed using TIMER 2.0 and GEPIA 2.0 platforms. Differential gene expression was assessed with a p value < 0.05 and |log₂FC| ≥ 1 as cut-off criteria. Results were cross-validated with the NCBI-GEO dataset GSE15641 (adjusted p < 0.05, |log₂FC| ≥ 1). Survival analysis was performed using GEPIA 2.0 (TCGA + GTEx) and the Human Protein Atlas to examine associations between metabolic gene expression and overall survival. Results: Transcriptomic analysis showed significant upregulation of oxidative phosphorylation genes IDH3A, OGDH, and SDHA (p < 0.05). No significant change in expression was observed for glycolysis-related genes (LDHA, SLC2A1) or for the glutaminolysis marker (ACLY). Cross-validation across TCGA, GTEx, and NCBI-GEO datasets confirmed these expression patterns. In survival analysis, high expression of LDHA and SLC2A1 (glycolysis) and ACLY (glutaminolysis) was associated with shorter overall survival, while IDH3A, OGDH, and SDHA (oxidative phosphorylation) showed variable or nonsignificant prognostic associations. Conclusions: This study highlights metabolic heterogeneity in chromophobe renal cell carcinoma. Transcriptomic profiling across independent datasets revealed that early-stage tumors predominantly express oxidative phosphorylation–related genes, whereas advanced disease shows a relative increase in glycolytic and glutaminolysis-associated gene expression. The association of LDHA, SLC2A1, and ACLY overexpression with poorer survival suggests that metabolic pathway shifts contribute to disease aggressiveness. These findings provide new insight into the metabolic evolution of chromophobe RCC and identify potential molecular targets for future therapeutic exploration.

Predicting clear cell subtype for kidney tumors from cross-sectional imaging using artificial intelligence.

429 Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common subtype of kidney cancer in adults. The standard of care for localized RCC is partial or radical nephrectomy, or active surveillance for small tumors. The histologic tumor diagnosis may assist in shared decision making, but it is typically unknown prior to nephrectomy in the absence of a renal mass biopsy. Additionally, biopsies have imperfect diagnostic performance due to tumor heterogeneity. We sought to explore whether histopathologic diagnoses could be predicted based on radiomic data. In this study, we present the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the clear cell subtype directly from imaging. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent nephrectomy and had a preoperative contrast-enhanced abdominal CT imaging available from 10/2009 to 7/2024 at a single large health system. A ResNet-50 architecture was fine-tuned to predict whether the tumor was ccRCC. 5-Fold cross-validation was used to obtain predictions for all patients. A second set of models was trained on the subset of patients with tumor sizes of 3cm to 7cm. The ensemble of 5 models was used to perform external validation on an independent dataset. DeLong’s tests were performed to compare AUC of the AI model and tumor size prediction model. Results: A total of 1,642 nephrectomy patients at the primary institution had available imaging and subtype classifications, of which 822 fell into the 3-7 cm cohort. For the whole cohort, the model achieved an AUC of 0.71, significantly outperforming the tumor size AUC of 0.54 (p = 6.6e-21). For the 3-7cm subset, the model achieved an AUC of 0.81, again significantly outperforming the tumor size AUC of 0.49 (p = 2.1e-26). For the external validation cohort, the model did significantly outperform tumor size with AUCs of 0.59 and 0.44 respectively (p = 0.009) on the 3-7 cm cohort. However, on the whole external validation cohort, the model did not significantly outperform tumor size. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that a computer-vision-based AI model is capable of predicting clear cell renal cell carcinoma from CT images in kidney cancer patients better than tumor size. This presents an alternative to biopsies for pre-surgical decision-making in patients whose treatment decision may be influenced by knowing their renal tumor subtype.

Axial load behaviour of concrete infilled and partially encased cold formed double sigma composite columns

Efficacy of ¹⁷⁷ Lu-PSMA-617 in neuroendocrine prostate cancer.

80 Background: The approval of Lutetium vipivotide tetraxetan ( 177 Lu-PSMA-617) for metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer has greatly benefited patients both before and after docetaxel. However, conventional wisdom holds that 177 Lu-PSMA-617 is ineffective and thus rarely used in neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) due to the assumption that NEPC cells lack expression of PSMA. For patients with NEPC treated with 177 Lu-PSMA-617 at a single center, we correlated PSMA expression on tumors by PET with PSA response. Methods: We utilized our institutional IRB approved database and retrospectively identified patients treated with 177 Lu-PSMA-617 from 2022 to 2025. NEPC was defined based on histology showing small cell differentiation or IHC staining for synaptophysin/chromogranin. FDA-approved MIM software (version 7.4.2) was used to perform whole-body tumor quantification on PSMA-PET scans. This software automates the segmentation of tumors through an AI-based model. Whole-body tumor PET metrics included SUV mean , SUV max , volume, and TLA (SUV mean *volume). The Pearson correlation coefficient and p-values were calculated using R version 4.5.1. Results: A total of 58 patients were treated with 177 Lu-PSMA-617 during this period and 6 met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 71 (range: 68-79) years. 5 (83.3%) patients presented with transformation to NEPC from adenocarcinoma prior to therapy and 1 patient presented with de novo NEPC (16.7%) prior to therapy. The median number of cycles was 3 (range 2-6). At baseline, the average whole body SUV max of patients was 46.79 (10.3-72.8) and average SUV mean was 8.1 (4.5-12.7). Median baseline PSA was 34.63 (0.154-88.24). PSA decline >50% occurred in 5 patients (83.3%). Whole body SUV mean was correlated with best PSA % response and we noted a weak negative correlation between the two (R = -0.28) though this did not reach statistical significant (p = 0.593). Conclusions: Although our study is limited by small sample size, we observed that NEPC does have the potential to express levels of PSMA that may be effectively targeted by 177 Lu-PSMA-617. In addition, we observed a weak but notable correlation that NEPC patients with higher PSMA expression had better response to 177 Lu-PSMA-617, like in the VISION trial. Our findings challenge the current assumption that 177 Lu-PSMA-617 is ineffective in NEPC and further exploration of PET selection criteria for this population of patients is warranted.

PiP‐Plex: A Particle‐in‐Particle System for Multiplexed Quantification of Proteins Secreted by Single Cells (Adv. Mater. 13/2026)

Mild Coordination Enabled by Steric Hindrance Facilitates Fabrication of Large‐Area Perovskite Solar Modules

ABSTRACT The scalable fabrication of high‐efficiency perovskite solar modules is critically challenged by the difficulty in controlling crystallization homogeneity and mitigating buried interfacial defects across large‐area substrates. The commonly used dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) can induce heterogeneous nucleation and is prone to remain trapped within the films. Herein, diethyl sulfoxide (DESO) is introduced, a volatile Lewis acid‐base additive that leverages steric hindrance effects from its branched‐chain structure to achieve mild coordination with PbI 2 . This structural feature reduces the binding energy between DESO and PbI 2 , which avoid the formation of complex metastable intermediate phases. Moreover, the low binding energy of DESO enables its complete removal during vacuum quenching via rapid evaporation, effectively suppressing void formation at the buried interfaces during the subsequent annealing. The resultant perovskite films yield perovskite solar modules (PSMs) with power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 22.9% (11.2 cm 2 , aperture area) and 20.8% (692 cm 2 , aperture area) via scalable processes. These devices exhibit operational stability, retaining >96% of their initial PCE after 2000 h under continuous 1‐sun illumination and >95% PCE following 2000 h damp‐heat testing (85°C/85% RH).

Intrinsically Disordered Protein‐Inspired Nanovector‐Based Coacervates for the Direct Cytosolic Transport of Biomacromolecules

Abstract In eukaryotic cells, membraneless organelles (MLOs) are formed via liquid‒liquid phase separation (LLPS) involving intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and biomacromolecules, enabling biomacromolecule transport without vesicles, transporters, or channels. Although MLO‐mimetic coacervates generated from synthetic biomaterials can deliver biomacromolecules into cells, they lack the conformational adaptability of IDPs and a defined internalization mechanism, limiting their stability under physiological conditions and hindering biomedical translation. Here, IDP‐inspired nanovectors (IDP‐NVs) are developed with conformational adaptability capable of forming nanocoacervates (NCs) with biomacromolecules for cytosolic delivery. Mixing with IDP‐NVs and cargos results in stable NCs under physiological conditions, and the NCs can directly penetrate cellular membranes through the molecular motion of IDP‐NVs. After the internalization, cytoplasmic glutathione triggers NC disassembly, releasing biomacromolecules in the cytosol. The NCs effectively deliver biomacromolecules of diverse sizes, charges, shapes (globular proteins and antibodies), and functions (mRNAs and CRISPR units), demonstrating their versatility and potential for biomedical applications.

Inpatient outcomes of bladder cancer: Racial and socioeconomic disparities in a nationally representative sample (2020-2022).

873 Background: Bladder cancer is the sixth most common malignancy in the United States (U.S.) and continues to impose substantial inpatient morbidity and cost. While race and sociodemographic factors affect hospitalization outcomes broadly, their impact in bladder cancer remains understudied. This study evaluated racial and socioeconomic disparities among U.S. adults with bladder cancer using a nationally representative dataset. Methods: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2020-2022 was analyzed to identify adult hospitalizations with bladder cancer using ICD-10 codes. Outcomes included in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, and total hospital charges. Race was categorized as White (reference), Black, Hispanic, and Other. Multivariate logistic and linear regression models assessed correlations, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and hospital-level factors. Results: A total of 257,710 hospitalizations were identified: 79.5% White, 8.1% Black, 5.7% Hispanic, and 6.7% Other. Black (31.8%) and Hispanic (26.6%) patients were more often younger than 65 years than White patients (17.2%). Socioeconomic disparities were significant, with 47.9% of Black and 35.0% of Hispanic patients in the lowest income quartile versus 22.0% of White patients. Female representation was higher among Black (35.8%) than White (22.8%) patients. Medicare was the main payer but less common among Black and Hispanic patients, who had higher Medicaid use (14.2% and 13.9% vs 4.1% of White). Most admissions were non-elective and occurred at urban teaching hospitals. Crude in-hospital mortality was 5.0%. On adjusted analyses, Black patients had higher odds of mortality (OR 1.31, p < 0.05) and non-home discharge (OR 1.14, p < 0.05) versus White patients. LOS was longer among Black (+0.8 days, p < 0.05) and Hispanic (+0.5 days, p < 0.05) patients. Adjusted charges were higher for Black (+$4,683, p < 0.05), Hispanic (+$15,070, p < 0.05), and Other (+$6,567, p < 0.05) patients. Conclusions: Racial and socioeconomic disparities persist among hospitalized patients with bladder cancer in the U.S. Black patients experienced higher inpatient mortality, longer stays, greater odds of non-home discharge, and higher costs than White patients, while Hispanic and Other groups had similar mortality but higher costs. Targeted strategies are needed to reduce inequities in inpatient outcomes and resource utilization.

Molecular and clinical correlates of early-onset clear cell renal cell carcinoma (eoRCC): A real-world multi-omics analysis.

535 Background: From 2010-2019, eoRCC had 1,793 excess cases, the third largest increase after breast and colorectal cancers. However, molecular drivers and survival implications for eoRCC remain unclear. This study uses a multi-omic real-world dataset to compare somatic, germline, immune, transcriptomic, and clinical features of eoRCC vs. typical-onset RCC (toRCC). Methods: The Tempus Lens Platform (Tempus AI, Inc., Chicago, IL) was used to query the multimodal de-identified database to identify RCC patients (pts) with xT (DNA) and xR (RNA) sequencing, tumor purity ≥30%. Pts with clear cell RCC (n = 1,842) were stratified by age at diagnosis as eoRCC (18 to ≤ 46 yrs., n = 211, 11.5%) and toRCC ( > 46 yrs., n = 1,631, 88.5%). We compared demographic, clinical, somatic and germline genomic features, transcriptomic profiles, and immune infiltration (quanTIseq). Differential expression and pathway enrichment used log2 (TPM+1) normalized RNA-seq data against hallmark and GOBP gene sets. Real-world time to next treatment (rwTTNT) and overall survival (rwOS) were measured from first-line (1L) therapy and assessed with Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier methods. Results: Pts with eoRCC were more often Black/African American (8.7% vs. 3.8%, p = 0.029) and Hispanic/Latino (32% vs. 17%, p < 0.001) compared to pts with toRCC. Germline alterations occurred in 11.3% eoRCC pts and 7.3% in toRCC (q = 0.5), with no age-enriched variants. eoRCC had lower somatic alteration rates in PBRM1 (21% vs. 43%, q < 0.001), SETD2 (13% vs. 25%, q < 0.001), and KDM5C (6% vs. 12%, q = 0.025), while VHL alteration rates were similar (76% in both). Transcriptomic profiling showed eoRCC upregulated pathways related to hypoxia and VEGFR signalling (q < 0.05). In contrast, immune-related pathways (IFNgamma/IFNalpha, IL6/JAK/STAT) and cell cycle regulators (E2F, mTOR) were downregulated (q < 0.05). Immune cell composition analysis indicated reduced infiltration of M1 macrophages in eoRCC vs. toRCC (p = 0.003). In eoRCC, median rwTTNT for 1L treatment trended shorter among pts treated with ipilimumab+nivolumab (n = 13) compared to VEGF+IO (n = 12) (8.8 mos. vs. not achieved; HR 0.23 (95%CI 0.05 - 1.09); p = 0.07). Median rwOS was not significantly different between eoRCC pts treated with ipilimumab+nivolumab (n = 13) vs. VEGF+IO (n = 14) (31.6 vs 25.2 mos.; HR 1.12 (95%CI 0.32- 3.87); p = 0.86). Conclusions: Age-stratified analysis showed that eoRCC has distinct features with more underrepresented racial/ethnic groups. eoRCC is associated with distinct biological phenotypes, exemplified by hypoxia/VEGF pathway upregulation and downregulation of immune, inflammatory, and cell cycle pathways. These hypothesis-generating findings highlight potential age-specific therapeutic targets and the need to explore age-adapted treatment strategies for this unique and growing population.

Enhancing interfacial bond performance of waste textile-reinforced geopolymer mortar for masonry retrofitting

Intermittent fasting in prostate cancer patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy.

TPS273 Background: Epidemiological studies suggest that diet can impact the incidence, progression, and response to treatment of several malignancies, including prostate cancer (PCa). Our group has previously reported that dietary protein restriction has a significant anti-tumor effect in patient-derived xenograft models of PCa ( Fontana L et al Oncotarget 2013 PMID: 24353195 ). We have also recently shown that caloric restriction through alternate-day fasting (ADF) reduces androgen receptor (AR) expression and signaling and enhances the antitumor activity of the AR antagonist enzalutamide in multiple mouse models of PCa. Nutrient starvation via ADF predominantly decreases AR mRNA translation at the elongation stage due to amino acid limitation. Thus, we propose that amino acid limitation through intermittent fasting (IF) may enhance AR-targeted therapy. Methods: Thirty adults (≥18 years) with histologically confirmed prostate cancer and measurable/evaluable disease (i.e. PSA) receiving androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSI) will be enrolled at the University at Buffalo/Great Lakes Cancer Care. This is a single center, longitudinal study to assess the feasibility of IF with or without a plant-based diet. Patients will undergo 16/8hs periods of fasting/eating and will be also offered to undergo a plant-based diet. Each cycle will have a duration of 28 days. Diet intervention will last for at least 3 cycles. Primary endpoints include enrollment, dropout, and dietary compliance rates measured by self-reports. Secondary objectives will assess whether IF (and optionally plant-enriched diet) reduces common toxicities as compared to historical data, the safety and tolerability of the combination of this dietary intervention using NCI CTCAE throughout the intervention period, and preliminary evidence of clinical efficacy including radiological and/or biochemical response (partial + complete), and progression-free survival. Feasibility will be assessed via self-reported dietary logs (MyFitnessPal), interviews, and retention metrics. Explorative objectives will include biomarker analyses (e.g., FGF21, IGF-1, insulin, CRP, leptin, glucose, cytokines) which will be conducted at baseline, mid-treatment, and post-treatment; stool samples will be analyzed for bacterial DNA. Body composition (DEXA/InBody) and patient-reported outcomes (appetite, mood, stress, quality of life) will be measured at predefined intervals. Overall, we hypothesize that IF plus a plant-based diet will be feasible and safe in patients undergoing ARSI with preliminary signals of improved clinical response and tolerability Findings from this pilot trial will inform the design of larger randomized studies investigating IF as adjunctive therapy for PCa patients receiving ARSI. The study is open to accrual with 7 patients enrolled at the time of submission. Clinical trial information: NCT06172283 .

Author Correction: Advances in the management of localized bladder cancers

Harnessing Targeted Photodynamic Therapy to Synergistically Activate T Cell and NK Cell Responses in Multiple Myeloma (Adv. Mater. 18/2026)

Electrostatic Enhanced Dual‐Mode Electronic Skin for Multifunctional Robotic Hands Capable of Object Shape and Material Recognition

ABSTRACT Owing to the increasing requirement for robotic systems to interact intelligently in unstructured and dynamic environments, multimodal perception has become an essential and challenging task. In this study, we introduce a multifunctional robotic hand that can distinguish the shape and material properties of objects using a dual‐mode electronic skin (e‐skin) capable of non‐contact and contact sensing. The e‐skin is composed of a polarized expanded polytetrafluoroethylene electret embedded in Ecoflex, thus enabling non‐contact sensing via the electrostatic‐field effect and contact sensing based on the triboelectric effect. The embedded electret architecture facilitates a high internal charge density, thereby significantly enhancing the intensity and range of non‐contact sensing, an advantage not achievable using conventional approaches. Integrating the dual‐mode e‐skin into a robotic arm endows it with multifunctional capabilities; furthermore, with the assistance of a long short‐term memory neural network, the robotic hand achieves 100% and 97.35% accuracies in object‐shape and object‐material recognition, respectively. This study demonstrates the potential of the proposed e‐skin as a versatile multimodal sensing interface for robotic platforms, thereby advancing autonomous and intelligent robotic interactions.

Liquid biopsy guided disitamab vedotin combined with toripalimab and radiotherapy for multimodal organ-sparing treatment of muscle invasive bladder cancer (DECIDING-I study).

849 Background: Trimodal therapy remains the standard organ-sparing approach for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), yet its clinical benefits are limited, and noninvasive biomarkers to guide dynamic treatment decisions are currently unavailable. There is an urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies and reliable biomarkers to improve outcomes in localized HER2-positive MIBC. Methods: In this proof-of-concept study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of disitamab vedotin (RC48, a HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate) combined with toripalimab (JS001, anti-PD-1) and radiotherapy in six patients with localized HER2-positive MIBC (DECIDING-1 study, ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05979740). Longitudinal liquid biopsy analyses were performed using the PredicineCARE assay to profile circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and urinary tumor DNA (utDNA), assessing their utility in monitoring treatment response and detecting relapse. Results: The combination therapy demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with no grade 4 treatment-related adverse events or deaths observed. Five patients (83.3%) achieved a complete response and remained recurrence-free during follow-up. Longitudinal biomarker analysis revealed that utDNA testing exhibited high accuracy in tracking therapeutic efficacy and enabled early detection of tumor recurrence, whereas ctDNA was largely undetectable in blood samples. Conclusions: This study establishes the feasibility and efficacy of a novel bladder-preserving regimen combining HER2-targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy for HER2-positive MIBC. DECIDING-II is recruiting for validation in a larger cohort. Furthermore, utDNA emerges as a promising noninvasive biomarker for real-time monitoring and early relapse detection. These findings support further investigation of this approach as a potential paradigm shift in MIBC management. Clinical trial information: NCT05979740 .

Kidney injury molecule‐1 (KIM-1) in localized and metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC): A meta-analysis and systematic review.

539 Background: Kidney Injury Molecule‐1 (KIM‐1) is a type 1 cell membrane glycoprotein, currently under investigation as a biomarker in Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC). In the adjuvant setting, high KIM-1 levels have been associated to worse outcomes, both in patients enrolled in the ASSURE trial (adjuvant sunitinib vs placebo) and CheckMate914 trial (nivolumab-ipilimumab vs placebo). Interestingly, in the IMotion010 trial, elevated plasma KIM-1 levels were found to be prognostic and predictive in patients treated with adjuvant atezolizumab. Basal KIM-1 levels have also been evaluated in metastatic RCC (mRCC), with lower levels being associated to a better prognosis. This meta-analysis and systematic review aim to clarify the prognostic role of KIM-1, both in adjuvant and metastatic settings. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis and systematic review, including prospective clinical trials reporting outcomes based on basal KIM-1 levels, comparing patients with high versus low KIM-1 levels. A systematic literature search was performed using the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. In the meta-analysis were included reports with outcomes data Hazard Ratio (HR) for Overall Survival (OS), Progression Free Survival (PFS), Disease Free Survival (DFS) according to baseline KIM-1 levels. Both adjuvant and mRCC trials were considered. The cutoff for KIM-1 high and low and the method to assess KIM-1 levels in each study was mandatory to include the data in our analysis. We identified two key primary endpoints: in the adjuvant setting, DFS according to baseline KIM-1 levels and in mRCC, PFS and OS according to basal KIM-1 levels. Results: We included data form 2120 patients enrolled in 4 randomized clinical trials (RCT), two in the metastatic setting (CheckMate-214, Javelin Renal 101) and two representatives of the adjuvant setting (Immotion010, ASSURE). The cutoffs used to define high and low baseline KIM-1 levels differed across trials, partly reflecting the different setting of the included trials. In adjuvant setting, we analyzed 961 patients and observed a DFS advantage for KIM-1 low patients (HR 0.57;95% CI 0.48-0.67). In metastatic setting, 1159 patients were included, showing OS advantage for the KIM-1 low subgroups (HR 0.63; 95% CI 0.51-0.87) but no statistically significant differences for PFS, although a numerical advantage for KIM-1 low patients (HR 0.52;95% CI 0.25-1.09). Conclusions: Data from our meta-analysis confirm the prognostic role of basal KIM-1 levels in both localized and mRCC. The main limitations of our analysis are the relatively small number of included trials and the heterogeneity in methods used to define high versus low KIM-1 levels across studies.

Triple-feature fusion from UAV multispectral imagery enhances species-level mangrove carbon assessment

Abstract Accurate estimation of mangrove ecosystem carbon stocks is essential for effective blue carbon management. Significant interspecific variations in carbon storage capacity and estimation methods arise due to species-specific biophysical characteristics, highlighting the need for precise mangrove species identification and species-level carbon stock assessment. However, limited studies assessed mangrove carbon stocks at species-level. This study, conducted in the Gaoqiao Mangrove Nature Reserve in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, applied UAV multispectral technology to simultaneously acquire spectral, structural and textural vegetation feature variables for mangrove species identification and established species-specific carbon stock models, thereby achieving species-level carbon stock estimation. Results showed that (1) by integrating spectral and structural features, the study achieved 89.87% overall accuracy in species identification. (2) Species-level carbon stock estimation models, incorporating spectral, structural and textural feature variables alongside field-measured carbon data, demonstrated strong predictive performance (R 2 = 0.48-0.95). (3) The most effective vegetation feature variables for carbon estimation varied significantly across species, emphasizing the necessity of accounting for species heterogeneity in mangrove carbon stock estimations. (4) Carbon stocks exhibited significant interspecific variation, with Rhizophora stylosa demonstrating the highest aboveground (97.06 t hm⁻ 2 ) and belowground (37.22 t hm⁻ 2 ) stocks, compared to Aegiceras corniculatum’ s minimum values of 49.14 and 19.88 t hm⁻ 2 , respectively. This study established a UAV-based multispectral framework for mangrove species-level carbon stock estimation and provided new insights for mangrove carbon assessment and management by demonstrating the importance of considering species-specific influences on carbon stocks and their estimation.

Plasma cfChIP-seq to predict cell surface target expression in neuroendocrine prostate cancer.

254 Background: Treatment of prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) with androgen-receptor pathway inhibitors can drive resistance via the emergence of neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). These aggressive cancers can express targetable cell surface proteins such as DLL3. Blood-based assessment of target expression could identify patients who may benefit from emerging biologic therapies targeting these proteins. To this end, we tested whether we could detect DLL3 expression in NEPC from circulating chromatin using a liquid biopsy assay. Methods: Cell-free chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing (cfChIP-seq) was performed for H3K4me3 at Precede Biosciences for a total of 57 longitudinal plasma samples collected from 25 patients with diagnosed with NEPC. Tissue samples from the biopsy confirming NEPC were available for 11 patients. NEPC was diagnosed based on small cell morphology and expression of synaptophysin and chromogranin A. Immunohistochemistry staining of membranous DLL3 was performed on matched tissue slides collected at a median of 14 days from plasma draw (range: 7 days – 18 months) and quantified by a board-certified pathologist. H3K4me3 cfChIP-seq signal at the DLL3 gene promoter was compared between plasma samples from patients with vs. without membranous DLL3 expression on IHC. Results: In total, 8 tissue samples had positive membranous DLL3 staining (DLL3+) and 3 had negative membranous expression (DLL3-). H3K4me3 staining at the promoter of DLL3 was significantly elevated in patients with tissue DLL3+ compared to DLL3- (p = 0.024, Wilcoxon rank-sum test). H3K4me3 plasma cfChIP-seq accurately distinguished DLL3+ from DLL3- with an AUROC curve of 0.96. In addition, an exploratory analysis was performed to measure elevated H3K4me3 promoter signal at additional cell-surface target genes from plasma samples of patients with NEPC (Table). Elevated signal was defined as H3K4me3 signal at the gene promoter with modified Z-scores ≥ 4, when compared to a control cohort consisting of plasma samples from healthy volunteers and patients with PRAD. Conclusions: In this exploratory analysis, H3K4me3 plasma cfChIP-seq can identify NEPC with membranous expression of DLL3. More broadly, this assay could allow blood-based monitoring of target expression to guide treatment with emerging biologic therapies targeting cell surface proteins. Cell surface target expression prediction based on plasma H3K4me3 promoter signal. Cell surface target N of samples with elevated H3K4me3 promoter signal Percentage SLC44A4 18 32% DLL3 16 28% MUC1 16 28% NECTIN4 15 26% ERBB2 15 26% NCAM1 14 25%

Thermally Processable Adhesive Aerogel Capsules

ABSTRACT Aerogels are renowned for their ultralow density and superior thermal insulation. However, the poor adhesion of traditional aerogels, arising from their porous surfaces and rigid frameworks, presents a significant challenge for integration into functional systems. Inspired by the core–shell architecture of expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (ETPU) beads, which feature a thermoplastic shell enabling thermally activated adhesion and a resilient core ensuring mechanical recovery, we developed self‐assembled adhesive aerogel capsules (SAACs). SAACs emulate this decoupling strategy with a porous chitosan/silica aerogel (CTS/SA) core preserving the thermal insulation, while an adhesive chitosan/carboxylated nitrile rubber (CTS/XNBR) shell enables adhesion. Through electrostatically‐based self‐assembly and freeze‐drying, negatively charged XNBR encapsulates a positively charged CTS/SA scaffold, forming a core–shell structure. SAACs can be thermally processed at mild temperatures (≤ 80°C) to adhere into 3D assemblies, conform to irregular shapes, and adhere to diverse substrates. Despite their adhesive capability, SAACs retain low density, low thermal conductivity (30–39 mW·m −1 ·K −1 ), and inherent flame retardancy. Unlike conventional aerogels or ETPU, SAACs combine the thermal processability of elastomers with the insulation and fire resistance of aerogels, offering a promising platform for applications in on‐site thermal management, energy conservation, and fire protection.